Project Interviews

"And with regard to my factual reporting of the events of the war I have made it a principle not to write down the first story that came my way, and not even to be guided by my own general impressions; either I was present myself at the events which I have described or else I heard of them from eyewitnesses whose reports I have checked with as much thoroughness as possible."

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War.

The UMBC Founders Oral History Project builds on a variety of materials in the university archives and other offices, including a series of interviews conducted some years ago for the university's thirtieth anniversary by Dr. Edward Orser. Project staff have reviewed all extant interviews, conducted additional research for materials not yet transferred to the archives, and engaged the help of former and current university officials to develop questions, prioritized lists of interviewees, and a management plan. New interviews began in August 2001 and are continuing. This new series is being done using state of the art digital cameras, which will result in much more stable archival media.

Larry Wilt discusses interview preparations with Albin O. Kuhn (r) and Joe Tatarewicz (l)

The new series of interviews begins as Joe Tatarewicz poses the first question to Albin Kuhn.

Rob Kuhlman in the control room monitors the interview and directs the taping.

The second interview begins with Homer Schamp

UMBC Founders Interviews by Edward Orser (mid 1990s)

Louis Kaplan (Board of Regents when UMBC established)

Guy Chisholm (first Physical Plant Director)

Homer Schamp (first Dean or Provost) 2/18/94 & 10/6/93

Cecilia Nedeloff (first telephone switchboard operator)

William Rothstein (founding faculty, Sociology)

Larry Lasher (Dean of Humanities Division)

Richard Neville (first Chair of Education Division)

Richard Roberts (first Chair of Mathematics Division)

Mary Roswell (founding faculty, Modern Languages)

Tim Hickman (early student)

Alice Robinson (founding faculty, Theater)

Albin Kuhn (First Chancellor or President)

Donald Langenberg 5/2/94

Sue WIlson (Secretary to Albin Kuhn) 1/12/94

Mimi Haw Dietrich (early student)

Bob Dietrich (early student)

Jim Schwartz (early student)

Beverly Rankin James

Gail Williams Rouse

New Series UMBC Founders Interviews

(unless otherwise noted all interviews were conducted by Joseph N. Tatarewicz in the UMBC Studios, and consist of digital video recording, audio cassette recording, transcripts, and supporting documentation).

June 28, 2001 Organization meeting with Drs. Evelyn Barker, Albin O. Kuhn, Richard Roberts, Homer Schamp, Robert Burchard, Joseph N. Tatarewicz, Larry Wilt, Barry Lanman, and Mr. John Willard. Audio only, no video.

Homer Schamp August 1, 2001

Albin O. Kuhn August 14, 2001

Richard Roberts November 9, 2001

Evelyn Barker October 7, 2002

Howard P. Rawlings October 28, 2002

Larry Lasher March 21, 2003

Betty Glascoe March 31, 2003

John Haskell (in Williamsburg, Virginia)

William Rothstein April 15, 2003

Robert Burchard May 6, 2003

UMBC Founders Oral History Project
c/o Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery
Dr. Larry Wilt, Library Director
Dr. Joseph N. Tatarewicz, Department of History, Webmaster